Phnom Penh is the capital city of Cambodia. Once described as the Pearl of Asia, Phnom Penh is the financial and cultural hub as well as leading the nation in infrastructural modernization. The skyline of Phnom Penh is changing quickly with the influx of new development projects, from condos to world class luxury hotels. Phnom Penh is also increasingly a regional hub with its advantageous location in the heart of Southeast Asia and near economic giants China, India and Australia.
Cultural Appeal of Phnom Penh
Visitors especially love that Phnom Penh retains it’s old warm charm while in the midst of transformative modernization. The contrast is exciting and unexpected. The New York Times did a nice story a few years back with French and British expatriates explaining their fascination with Phnom Penh:
Where to Stay in Phnom Penh
Phnom Penh once mostly offered modest accommodations – guest houses, hostels and low-cost hotels. These days, Phnom Penh is emerging as a world city, with not only established luxury hotels such as Raffles or the Intercontinental, but also new entrants such as the Hyatt Regency with its 247 rooms of modern luxury, and the Rosewood Phnom Penh, with one of the best rooftop bars in the city.
It may be a surprise to see a Rolls Royce pulling up next to a tuk tuk but that is the quintessential picture of Phnom Penh today – newfound wealth mixing with old world Cambodia. The unabashed opulence coexisting with traditional Khmer culture. This promotional video for Rosewood Hotel Phnom Penh is a good example of this new confidence.